Tamiya 1/24 Citroen 2CV

[crisis]

the most important danger being that you will have not enough life to finish all the kits you tend to hoard during the years

Sorry to take so long to reply. Nice choke kit. (Rotten car) I agree it would be a criminal waste of time to modify this kit. I like your comment about hoarding kits. My father was exceptionally gifted in this particular talent. I inherited all of them when he died. I couldnt even guess how many there were. Mostly aircraft, that was his thing. I have built hundreds as a kid and far fewer as an adult , (there never is the time). I also contributed to the stockpile by purchasing many myself. I have sold hundreds but still two cupboards and four large cartons full. I have all but given up any hope of building them as my spare(!) time is engaged in numerous other activities. I still have a heap of early Frog and Airfix aircraft kits as well as many other vagueries. I would actually like to sell more of them but would prefer the antiquities to go to a collector or someone who respected the value of them. Even better someone who could build them well. (they are , as you may understand of questionable quality detail wise). As I said they are mainly aircraft so not of much interest to most people on this site I guess.

[Matra et Alpine]

I still have a heap of early Frog and Airfix aircraft kits as well as many other vagueries. I would actually like to sell more of them but would prefer the antiquities to go to a collector or someone who respected the value of them. Even better someone who could build them well. (they are , as you may understand of questionable quality detail wise). As I said they are mainly aircraft so not of much interest to most people on this site I guess.

eBay is the main source of kit sales.
You can see some really silly prices for old kits.
Unopened bagged kits seem to comand huge prices.
$900 for a Testarossa - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2581
$600 for a German tank - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2588
GBP 170 for a James Bond 'cheap' Airfix kit - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=1190
$600 for a 'cheap' REVELL F104 kit - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=50301

I'm sure you could find all the 'going rates' for the kits you've inherited.

You can also ask over on the rec.models.scale, they don't gererally like folks trying to sell on the ng. But you could ask for advice there.

[crisis]

eBay is the main source of kit sales.
You can see some really silly prices for old kits.
Unopened bagged kits seem to comand huge prices.
$900 for a Testarossa - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2581
$600 for a German tank - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=2588
GBP 170 for a James Bond 'cheap' Airfix kit - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=1190
$600 for a 'cheap' REVELL F104 kit - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=50301

I'm sure you could find all the 'going rates' for the kits you've inherited.

You can also ask over on the rec.models.scale, they don't gererally like folks trying to sell on the ng. But you could ask for advice there.

Yes , Actually I didnt want to sound like I was looking for buyers here but I tend to run on a bit when I get going. I was thinking about Ebay but Im not really wanting to make a fortune. I would like to get them out of my shed but I feel responsible to the old man as they were his pride and joy. He always told me , "these will be worth a lot one day". Somewhat of a conundrum.

[Matra et Alpine]

Yes , Actually I didnt want to sound like I was looking for buyers here

Actually for car kits, I wouldn't mind you list them here myself

I was thinking about Ebay but Im not really wanting to make a fortune.

Hmm, I maybe gave a too positive view.
As well as silly money you do get lots going for good prices and occasionally get some excellent deals.

I would like to get them out of my shed but I feel responsible to the old man as they were his pride and joy. He always told me , "these will be worth a lot one day". Somewhat of a conundrum.

I think that leaves you three choices ....
- contact local model club and ask them to sell them on your behalf
- sell them on eBay
- pass them onto your son in your will

[byronleehk]

It just brings in the complexity of cleaning the body.
Spraying paint needs the body to be washed in good detergent and dried - preferably air-dried - and use cotton lint-free glove to handle it till painted.
I reckon not worth the hassle for the first attempt.
( if you don't do the above you end up with uneven surface or dust caught in the finish )
Americans love a product called "Future" - a floor polish - as a final coat on their models to seal and provide a very high gloss finish. Have you tried it ?

Well the Alpine Blue is a unique colour and the only way to get a realistic result is to use the Tamiya paint - they also do a polycarbonate paint for those who want to build the 1/12 scalre radio controlled A110

Matra,

I've tried "Future" and my feelings for it is mixed...
Pros: Cheap, thin, easy to use, can be sprayed or brushed on.
Cons: Sometimes won't mix with other paints, i.e. "HOT" ones in nature like enamels by Boyd, hard to wet-sand.

Aside from Tamiya, I have also used spray cans by Testors, Gunze Sangyo and Modeller's.

I specially like the line by Gunze Sangyo called "Auto Color" but the down side is they are mainly for Japanese and only a few for European Exoctics. And if you want realistic results for older (1965-1980) race cars then I'll go with Modeller's "Racing Color".

Hope this helps.

[henk4]

That's a great comment, especially coming from you. You may outrank HLJ's stock of sealed new kits.

Thanks, but your are wrong, I always open the boxes immediately

[<AAA-MOD>]

Thanks, but your are wrong, I always open the boxes immediately

sorry, i assumed you left them sealed, but i understand you still have a lot of kits waiting for your attention.

[henk4]

sorry, i assumed you left them sealed, but i understand you still have a lot of kits waiting for your attention.

Rumours do spread quickly

[henk4]

Sorry to take so long to reply. Nice choke kit. (Rotten car) I agree it would be a criminal waste of time to modify this kit. I like your comment about hoarding kits. My father was exceptionally gifted in this particular talent. I inherited all of them when he died. I couldnt even guess how many there were. Mostly aircraft, that was his thing. I have built hundreds as a kid and far fewer as an adult , (there never is the time). I also contributed to the stockpile by purchasing many myself. I have sold hundreds but still two cupboards and four large cartons full. I have all but given up any hope of building them as my spare(!) time is engaged in numerous other activities. I still have a heap of early Frog and Airfix aircraft kits as well as many other vagueries. I would actually like to sell more of them but would prefer the antiquities to go to a collector or someone who respected the value of them. Even better someone who could build them well. (they are , as you may understand of questionable quality detail wise). As I said they are mainly aircraft so not of much interest to most people on this site I guess.

Thanks for the compliment on the car, (what do you mean by "choke", is it meant cynically? ) actually the only additional thing is the bare metal foil on certain rims along the body. The topic of kit value is a nice one, it is sometimes coming close to the hype about "mint and boxed" diecasts. The value of a kit actually reduces to zero once built, which is also a reason not to start building, as soon as you know that a re-issue of a certain is out the question. Many buyers of old 1/12 Tamiya have been unpleasantly surprised by re-issues of all of them reducing their market value to retail price. My gem in this respect is a Protar 1/12 plastic/metal kit of the McLaren MP4/2C,(number 779 of an assumed total of 1000) of which re-issue is highly unlikely, even though Protar has been taken over by Italeri. I have seen prices creeping up to a 1000 US$. (I paid 50 during a sale). Should I sell it? Built it, which means capital destruction, and experts say the kit has lousy detail? Ah, life is so complicated.
Anyway a recent professional change has meant that I may have more time available but again, there are also other priorities in life.

[crisis]

Thanks for the compliment on the car, (what do you mean by "choke", is it meant cynically? ) actually the only additional thing is the bare metal foil on certain rims along the body. The topic of kit value is a nice one, it is sometimes coming close to the hype about "mint and boxed" diecasts. The value of a kit actually reduces to zero once built, which is also a reason not to start building, as soon as you know that a re-issue of a certain is out the question. Many buyers of old 1/12 Tamiya have been unpleasantly surprised by re-issues of all of them reducing their market value to retail price. My gem in this respect is a Protar 1/12 plastic/metal kit of the McLaren MP4/2C,(number 779 of an assumed total of 1000) of which re-issue is highly unlikely, even though Protar has been taken over by Italeri. I have seen prices creeping up to a 1000 US$. (I paid 50 during a sale). Should I sell it? Built it, which means capital destruction, and experts say the kit has lousy detail? Ah, life is so complicated.
Anyway a recent professional change has meant that I may have more time available but again, there are also other priorities in life.

I had to choke on my words as a compliment to that car, as you know gos against my personal predjudices. I cannot fault the quality of your modelling though so a compliment was well deserved. Frog aircraft kits suffered(?) the same fate as the Tamiya kits you mentioned when not only Novo but Revell and a few others began re releasing their old kits. Frog kits themselves never gained much aof a reputation for detail, moulding or anything else that could be related to quality. They did, however , choose subjects that were not available from other manufacturers. The 1/72 Shakleton was a particularly sought after example. Novos reissues reduced the quality even further some how and Revell marketed them in such a way to sometimes fool the unwary that they were getting a "new" kit. The reissues did much diservice to those who were asking rediculous prices for the originals though. I hope you recent professional change was positive and of your choosing.

[henk4]

I hope you recent professional change was positive and of your choosing.

Thanks, yes it was. rather than being on fixed contract I am now working self-employed, where you either earn twice as much or work only half the year, depending on demand.

[byronleehk]

Thanks for the compliment on the car, (what do you mean by "choke", is it meant cynically? ) actually the only additional thing is the bare metal foil on certain rims along the body. The topic of kit value is a nice one, it is sometimes coming close to the hype about "mint and boxed" diecasts. The value of a kit actually reduces to zero once built, which is also a reason not to start building, as soon as you know that a re-issue of a certain is out the question. Many buyers of old 1/12 Tamiya have been unpleasantly surprised by re-issues of all of them reducing their market value to retail price. My gem in this respect is a Protar 1/12 plastic/metal kit of the McLaren MP4/2C,(number 779 of an assumed total of 1000) of which re-issue is highly unlikely, even though Protar has been taken over by Italeri. I have seen prices creeping up to a 1000 US$. (I paid 50 during a sale). Should I sell it? Built it, which means capital destruction, and experts say the kit has lousy detail? Ah, life is so complicated.
Anyway a recent professional change has meant that I may have more time available but again, there are also other priorities in life.

I've had this 'fight' for years...to build the kit or to keep it mint in box?

The little guy on my left shoulder say "kits are meant to be built, and think of the fun of building it, the joy of just looking at your finished art afterwards". But the other little guy on my other shoulder said "Don't even open the box, keep it sealed and mint".

*sigh*

I wish I was rich like a friend of mine. He'll buy 2-3 of the same kit, 1 to build and the others to keep. He actually has a storage facility for those kits.

*sigh* (again)

[crisis]

I wish I was rich like a friend of mine. He'll buy 2-3 of the same kit, 1 to build and the others to keep. He actually has a storage facility for those kits.

*sigh* (again)

Take it from me, there is not much point in that. Only a few kits end up being rare enough to command big prices. Most companies re issue their back catalogues eventually and moulds change hands also. Any kits that are actually new releases will be around in thousands as well. If you start collecting you will end up like my father and subsequently me. Hundreds of models that take up heaps of storage space and someone will have to get rid of them when you croak.